We have three girls, 4yrs4mths then 3yrs8mths apart. The first gap was due to infertility and I was so upset about it, right up until I actually got pregnant and it stuck and I realised what an ideal gap it was going to be for us. Second gap was planned, we got pregnant first cycle so that was the minimum gap we were prepared to consider.
upside: although #2 and #3 have to get dragged around in their sister/s wake all three girls have, for the most part, been parented as babies very much in the same way. Attachment style, extended breastfeeding, lots of attention (not that they would tolerate anything else).
downside - 9+ years straight of parenting babies/small children.
My pregnancies got worse every time, the third was truly hellish. But my deliveries and recoveries have been better each time. Anything could happen, you can't count on it, but for most women subsequent births and recoveries DO get easier.
You get better at parenting hard to parent kids, you find ways to get more into your day. You also have more kids though...My youngest is 18 months and it's harder now than when she was 6 months old. I would estimate that 12-24mths is the hardest age for me, practically speaking, in terms of trying to get anything else done (ie work). I cannot imagine being pregnant with with another baby while she is this age, let alone having another baby with her like this. Of course I think another pregnancy might kill me so, um, my yardstick might be off.
Last edited by MumOfThree; 09/08/11 09:27 PM.
